Texas-based Brownsville Public Utilities Board recently announced that nearly $47.2 million in state funding has been secured for two transformative water infrastructure projects that will improve water security and sustainability for the Brownsville, Texas, region.
The funding comes through the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and was included in the state budget bill approved by the Texas Legislature.
The approved funding includes:
• $34.5 million for the Banco Morales Reservoir, a major off-channel raw water storage reservoir designed to impound surplus water from the Lower Rio Grande, which will add 400 million gallons of water storage capacity to help Brownsville meet growing municipal water needs.
• $12.7 million for BPUB’s Potable Water Reuse Project, a key investment in long-term water sustainability that will allow treated wastewater to be safely reused as drinking water.
These two projects represent major steps forward for Brownsville’s water future, BPUB General Manager and CEO Marilyn Gilbert said. “We are grateful to our state leaders for recognizing the urgent need to invest in water infrastructure, especially given ongoing drought conditions and regional water shortages.”
The funding reflects months of advocacy and collaboration between BPUB, local stakeholders, and the state’s legislative leadership, the public power utility said.
The Banco Morales Reservoir and Potable Reuse Project are both part of BPUB’s long-term strategy to diversify Brownsville’s water sources, reduce dependence on the Rio Grande, and protect public health and environmental quality.
“We are taking proactive steps to secure Brownsville’s water future,” Gilbert said. “Thanks to this historic investment, our customers will benefit from enhanced water reliability and sustainability for decades to come.”
